Apparatus for washing photographic negatives.



'N o. 643,77I. Patented Feb. 20, 1900.

. B. K. MARSTON. A

APPARATUS FOR WASHING *PHOTOGRAPHIG NEGATIVES.

(Application fllad Aug. 14, 1899.)

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No. 643,77I. Patented Feb. '20, I900.

R. K. MARSTON.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING PHOTOGRAPH") NEGATIVES.

(Application filed Aug. 14, 1899.)

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RICHARD KARR MARSTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR '1() JAMES H.

SMITH, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING PHOTOGRAPHIC N EGATIVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 643,771, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed August 14,1899. Serial No. 727,163. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD KARR MARs- TON, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Washing Photographic Negatives, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which corresponding letters of reference in the different figures indicate like parts.

One object of my invention is to utilize a revoluble water-wheel in connection with a photographic-negative-washing machine in such a manner that the negative-plate may be readily and conveniently placed therein, removed therefrom, and securely held in position during the process of washing.

A further object is to provide such a plateholding device that it may be equally well adapted to hold plates of varying size.

To these ends my invention consists in the combination of elements hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional view taken upon the line 1 1, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a sectional view in plan, taken upon the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear view in perspective of one of the buckets, a portion being broken away to show the plate therein; and Fig. 4: is a central vertical sectional view of a washing apparatus, showing a modified construction.

Referring to the drawings, a represents the base of the machine, which is preferably formed from bent wire, said base being 0blong in shape, as shown, to the sides of which is attached supports 1) b, bent at the top, as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 4 and shown in full lines in Fig. 2. Soldered to the parts a are plates at d, which are centrally bored to receive the ends of a shaft e, which is provided with washers ff, Fig. 2, to retain it in place. A water wheel g, consisting, preferably, of a series of buckets h, rigidly attached to each other at the front and rear, is mounted upon the shaft by means of plates or bars 7 extending diametrically across said wheel and soldered or otherwise attached thereto. Each of said buckets is provided with aflat botton Z, formed from sheet metal, and outwardly-extended flanges j k, the latter being tapered toward the front, as shown. Bent springs m are soldered at one end to the bottom of each of said buckets, as shown, each of said springs having rigidly attached to its free end a catch a, which is projected through a slot 0, Figs. 2 andfi, formed in the bottom of the bucket, said slot being curved to conform to the path of movement of the end of the spring. The ends of the catches which project through said slots are bent, as shown at 10, so as to engage and overlap the edges of the negative-plates q in the manner clearly indicated in the drawings and to press said plates back against the flanges j or other suitable stops, so as to hold them in place during the rotation of the wheel, as hereinafter described. Lugs j, Figs. 1 and 4, may be provided to overlap the rear end of the respective plates.

' It is obvious from the construction described that plates of varying size, from very small ones up to the full area of the compartments designed therefor, may be washed with equal facility, inasmuch as the springs m will adapt themselves to plates of varying dimensions.

Plates 0, Figs. 1 and 2, having inturned flanges s s, are attached to the supports 1) b, which flanged plates are adapted to receive removable vertical supports t t, to the upper end of which is attached a trough a, having a row or rows of perforations '0 in the bottom thereof,extendingthroughoutitslength. The trough is intended to be placed beneath a faucet w, from which it receives a Water-supply. A baffle-plate m is formed in said trough, said plate extending from end to end and nearly across the same, as shown, for the purpose of causing a more uniform distribution of the water than would otherwise occur. The object in making the trough removable is to render the device more compact for shipping purposes.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a wheel in which the bottoms of the buckets as connected with each other describe a hexagon; but it is obvious that this construction may be varied without departing from the principle involved. Thus in Fig. 6 I have shown a modification of said invention in which the buckets are so placed as to increase the number in a Wheel of a given diameter.

In placing the negatives in the buckets the part n beneath the bucket is grasped by the finger and the spring m is drawn out to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The negative q is then laid upon the bottom of the bucket, which is in effect the equivalent of an ordinary tray, with its rear edges against the flangej and beneath the lugj, when the spring is released, which causes the front edge of the plate to be engaged by the catch 19, thus securing it in place. Should there be an insufficient number of plates to fill the buckets, it is obvious that they should be so placed as to balance each other, and in the event of an odd number a blank plate may be used to balance the wheel. hen the plates are inserted, as described, the trough it is placed beneath a faucet and the water turned on. The flow of water causes the wheel to rotate, which distributes the water uniformly over all of the plates and washes them with greater rapidity than is done in washers in which the negatives are stationary. Moreover, the drippings from one plate are not transmitted to another, nor is sediment permitted to form upon the plates.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A device of the class described, consistin g essentially of a water-wheel mounted upon a horizontal axis, a series of buckets adapted to receive negative-plates therein, springactuated catches for detachably securing said plates in position, and means for distributing a flow of water to said buckets, substantially as described.

2. The combination in a device of the class described, of a water-wheel having a horizontal axis, said wheel being provided with a series of negative-holding buckets, spring-actuated catches for holding said negatives in place in said buckets, said catches being adapted to fit negative-plates of varying size, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a photographic-negative washer, of a water-wheel having a horizontal axis, a series of negative-holding buckets, spring-actuated catches for holding said negatives in place within said buckets and a trough having perforations throughout its length for distributing water to said buckets, substantially as described.

4:. The combination in a photographic-nega tive washer, of a water-wheel having a horizon tal axis, a series of negative-holding buckets, spring-actuated catches for holding said negatives in place within said buckets, a trough having perforations in its bottom throughout its length and a bafile-plate arranged lengthwise of said trough for distributing the water therein, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 2d day of August, 1899.

RICHARD KARR MARSTON.

Vitnesses:

' D. H. FLETCHER,

GERTRUDE HEIDELBERGER. 

